The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and that includes small businesses. If you want your business to stand out during this festive season, you need to get creative with your marketing. Luckily, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce has a few ideas to get you started.

Creating and Sharing a PDF Gift Guide

One of the best ways to market your small business during the holidays is to create and share a gift guide. This is a great way to show off your products or services and give people ideas for presents. You can share your gift guide via email, social media, or even create a PDF that people can download. It may be worthwhile to create multiple PDF gift guides. Try writing multiple guides in one file, and then you can split your PDF into separate documents for free. Try creating guides targeted toward different customer bases.

Investing in Holiday Wrapping and Packaging

Another great way to make your small business stand out during the holidays is to invest in holiday packaging. This could include branded gift wrap, boxes, or even bags. People love receiving presents that are beautifully packaged, so this is a great way to make a good impression. Plus, it's a great opportunity to show off your branding.

Posting Useful and Interactive Content

People are always looking for helpful content during the holidays. Whether it's tips on what gifts to buy for loved ones or recipes for holiday meals, if you can provide useful and interactive content, people will be more likely to remember your small business. You can post this content on your blog, social media channels, or even create an eBook or video series.

Engaging Online with Social Media

Social media is a great way to connect with your customers and followers during the holidays. You can use social media to share updates about your products or services, post holiday-themed content, run contests or giveaways, and much more. Get creative and have fun with it!

Holding Themed Giveaways or Contests

Who doesn't love getting free stuff? Hosting a giveaway or contest is a great way to attract customers during the holidays. You can give away products or services from your small business or even team up with other businesses to offer bigger prizes. Just be sure to promote your giveaway or contest well in advance so people have time to enter.

Rewarding and Celebrating Loyal Customers

The holidays are also a great time to show appreciation for your loyal customers. You can do this by offering special discounts or coupons, giving away freebies, or even just sending them a handwritten note expressing your gratitude. They'll appreciate the gesture and it may even encourage them to continue doing business with you in the future.

Partnering with Fellow Local Businesses

Small businesses need all the support they can get during the holidays (and all year round!). One great way to do this is by partnering with other local businesses. This could involve teaming up on marketing initiatives, collaborating on products or services, or simply referring customers to each other. Whatever you do, make sure both businesses are getting something out of the partnership so it's beneficial for both parties involved.

Hosting a Holiday Event

Hosting an event is always a great way to market your small business during the holidays (or any time of year). You could host an open house at your store or office, throw a holiday party for customers and clients, hold a workshop or seminar related to your industry, or any number of other events. The sky's the limit! Just make sure you promote your event well in advance so people have time to clear their schedules and make plans to attend.

Supporting a Local Nonprofit or Charity

Giving back is always important but it's especially important during the holidays. There are many ways you can support a local charity as a small business owner. This could involve making donations of money or goods, hosting fundraisers at your store or office, volunteering your time, or partnering with a charity on various initiatives. Whatever you do, just make sure you choose a reputable charity that aligns with the values of your small business.

As you can see, there are many creative ways you can market your small business during the holidays. From creating and sharing a gift guide to investing in holiday packaging, there are plenty of ways to make sure your business stands out from the crowd. So get brainstorming and start planning those holiday marketing campaigns! Your customers will thank you for it.

Join the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce to connect with local entrepreneurs and resources that can help your business grow.